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Blog: How do you count your Transformers collection?

No, it's not a joke. It is in fact a serious question. How do you count how many Transformers are in your collection?

This is a subject that has most certinly been discussed before by the fandom in some form or fashion. I don't think it's been done like this, at least not in quite a while.

While the answer may seem obvious (just count what's on the shelf). Is it really that simple?

For a number of figures the answer is yes. It is that simple. Just about all of the deluxe fugures from Cybertron were straight forward figures one alt mode, one bot mode. The same is true for the majority of TFs.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. What about Armada? How do you count mini-cons? Armada Hot Shot came with Mini-con Jolt. But, the only way you could collect the Jolt mini-con was with Hot Shot. So, do you count them as 1 or 2 figures? They are able to function independently of one another, but are permanantly teamed together. Either can attian a bot mode or an alt mode with no need of the other figure. But, the cashier at "Target" charged you for A Deluxe Class Transformer.

If that seems fairly easy to answer think about this, Targetmasters. Targetmaster Hot Rod and Firebold agian both are robots and both transform to an alt mode. This time the partnership is a little more deep and harder to split. However, is Firebold's alt mode (a gun) dependant on Hot Rod? Well, no it isn't. Any of the other large figure with a correctly sized hand can use him.

Now let's move on to an even more grey aera, Headmasters. This is where it can really get interesting. If your criteria so far has been it needs to be a figure and transform from an alt mode to a bot mode fine. But, does Highbrow transform? What about is Nebulan counterpart head Gort, does he transform? The answer to both questions is an obvious yes. But, what do they transform into? Can Gort be a disimbodied head? And, is it really Highbrow if he's decapitated?

Still think you've got the answer? Here's another interesting figure, Armda Sideways. The purple motorcycle transforms into a unique bot mode with it's own head. He comes with Crosswise and Rook mini-cons. Both of which can transform into a secondary head for Sideways as an alt mode. Both have their own bot modes. And, the two of them can combine to form a larger bot to ride Sideways when he's in motorcycle mode. In this case Sideways is easy enough to count as an independent transformer. Are Crosswise and Rook? After all for either one to transform to either alt mode they must to combine with someone else. So, are Sideways, Rook, and Crosswise 1or 2 or 3 figures?

With all of the thought that goes into making a Transformer, come some other questionable "figures". G1 Optimus Prime, for instance, obviously counts as 1 figure, but does he count as 2 or maybe even 3 figures? After all doesn't the trailer transform and function simi-autonimusly? And, Roller apears to have some amount of A.I. Does that small level of independance make either trailer or Roller count as a figure all on it's own?

Answer- Sorry, it's still not that simple. But there seen to be a only few dominant views on how to answer.

1: Count everything (including trailer & Roller). Yes it could be a little bit of cheating but it is a reasonable way to count.

2: Count what came in the package. In this case it's up to you weather you count the G1 Constructicon giftset you got as 1 or 6. Since each figure was also sold seperatly, it is fine to count it as 6. However mini-con 3 packs are only 1, and mini-con partners (Jolt) wouldn't count at all.

3: Split the difference. That's right count twice. Count once where you count everything trying to get as high a number as you can. Count agian where you're trying to get as low a figure count as you can. Then split the difference. ie- You have 250 by one count and 300 by the other. You just call it 275.

4: Independant functionality count (this is how I do it). In order to be counted each figure MUST have an independant bot mode AND an independant alt mode. In this method the Star Saber counts as 3 and Highborw & Gort count as 1.

I count my collection by the number of individual characters I have. For example, the 6 Constructicons form Devastator, making that 7 different characters. So, if the combined form has it's own name and personality, I count that as a character. That goes for Minicons, Headmaster/Targetmaster/Powermaster partners as well. If they've got their own name and personality, they are part of my count as individuals. I've found a lot of collectors that don't agree with me on this, but my love for Transformers has always been driven by the characters, so that's how I value my collection.

actually i have at least two of each figure starting with armada and everything thats come since, energon, cybertron, titanium, classics, etc. in some cases i have three or four of the same figure. i also have 9 25th anniv. primes

well, when they came out i thought i could at least grab two for myself but when they went on sale i thought maybe in the future they would sell at a collectors price. now it seems the stores(walmart) are getting flooded with them.

i agree with t-wrecks and knigtwing, if you have aireilbots you count 5 individual and then superion makes six ,it will take me all day to inventory,when do we have to have results ? lets make this an official count for all members and visiter on unicron.com . like say give everyone at least a week to get it together and set a final date . no approx numbers only acurate . and give some detail on how you counted your collection. tf's only !

lets leave it up to knightwing to give us details about setting a start and final date .

I have 330 counting mini-cons as seperate from their partners, McDonnald's figures, and not counting the combined forms as another. That also includes the Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet as one, because I may as well considering I spent the money. But that exlcludes duplicates or ones that I did own but broke and threw away or ones that I gave away as gifts. So 300+ any way you look at it.

I count Mini-Cons separately, and don't count Nebulans or Action Master buddies. My biggest problem is incomplete toys. I have a Shrapnel that is messed up and I don't count him, but I have a mostly complete RiD Optimus that I do count. Also, I don't count doubles.

I have 13 mini-cons and 28 random figures from different years. I have also figures that I consider are in "death- state" this is figures which lack all accessories or are damaged beyond repair (mostly G-1 stuff that belongs to my childhood in really bad condition) I wish I could repair that stuff but is simply out of my possibilities and budget,So, I only count what is not a mess too.

I think I have sixty some odd figures. I don't know exactly off hand. I've counted them numerous times lately, and I'm sad that I don't remember the number off of the top of my head. As for counting them, I count each individual figure. To me, a Transformer is just that. It doesn't matter what they transform into, where they come from, who/what they are partnered with, etc. Like you mentioned, Knightwing, a lot of the figured from the Headmaster's toys were technically two different figures. Well, in the Japanese series, the smaller figure is the actual Transformer; the larger body is what they move around in. It's like a battle armor or something. Each one can transform on its own, and the heads can switch around to different bodies. So, in that sense, yes, they are different transformers. It's sort of like asking "Are Soundwave or Blaster's tapes fully functioning individuals?" If you count their tapes as a seperate transformer, who they require for their existence, transportation, etc; then why wouldn't you count a minicon as a seperate entity from the larger robot it is partnered with?As for Optimus Prime, I've always understood that he was composed of three main components. The primary robot, the trailer and Roller. Each can function independantly of one another, but they're required to form one single entity, because they all make up that entity. Its why Optimus was so distraught when Roller was nearly blown up once. Also, if you notice, Hot Rod gained a "trailer" look when he became Rodimus Prime. Whenever he reverted back to Hot Rod, he lost the trailer mode. It was even removable from the toy, if I'm not mistaken. Its a piece of equipment that makes a Prime a Prime, according to the story. At least as I understand it.

Let's see:160 G1's22 Minispies110 Micromasters31 Various Transformsrs323 Total. No doubles included...The only doubles i do count though is the G1 Hotrod(1) and the G1 Targetmaster Hotrod(2). i also have a Universe Micromasters Superion(6) set and a reissue Sixwing(6) set that's the same but different. I count every individual robot regardless. I count Devestator as 6 robots. No McDonald's toys, no Impossible Toys' Quintesson and no World's Smallest. i count G1 Optimus as 1 toy for now but I count G1 Metroplex as 4 individual robots: Metroplex, Scamper, Six-Gun and Slammer. Maybe i should count Optimus as more than one robot...